I approach every game with one goal: uncover every secret, complete every challenge. Shift Happens invited me into a playful, cooperative puzzle world. Developer Klonk Games and publisher Daedalic Entertainment delivered a unique two-player platformer. Released on February 22, 2017, this title blends mass-shifting mechanics with tongue-in-cheek humor. In this review, I’ll share my completionist perspective on its strengths and flaws.
Overall Impressions
Shift Happens stands out for its clever shifting mechanic. You and your partner trade mass, alter your shape, and fling each other to new heights. The four stylized worlds feel fresh. Yet some puzzles grow repetitive over time. Compared to modern co-op gems like It Takes Two, Shift Happens feels leaner. It lacks a driving narrative but makes up for that with pure mechanical fun. I appreciated its inviting pace, high death rate notwithstanding. The game moves swiftly, so you rarely linger on failure screens.
Gameplay Mechanics
The core shift mechanic works beautifully. By pressing a button, you swap weight and size with your partner. Light players jump higher; heavy players smash obstacles. This rule fuels every puzzle. I logged dozens of hours chasing hidden levels and time trials. The collectibles require precise coordination. One sequence forced me to propel my partner through narrow pipes while shifting on the fly. It remains one of my most satisfying moments. A handful of glitches surfaced on PC. I experienced occasional clipping and a stuck camera. These bugs never broke the puzzle flow, but they did test my patience. Overall, the game strikes a fine balance between accessibility and challenge.
Story and Characters
Shift Happens keeps its story minimal. You explore unnamed realms full of surreal architecture. Occasional taunts and backstabs between the two avatars inject personality. I view the protagonists as playful co-workers rather than heroes. Their silent rivalry provides constant amusement. While the lack of a deep storyline might disappoint some, the light narrative serves the puzzle focus well. The game hints at a deeper world, but leaves most questions unanswered. Completionists may crave more lore. I hope Klonk Games expands this universe in future titles.
Visuals and Graphics
Shift Happens sports a charming, low-poly art style. The colorful geometry pleases the eye without distracting from the puzzles. Each world introduces new palettes and thematic elements. A neon factory level offers stark contrasts. A cloud realm feels ethereal in pastel blues. Despite simple textures, the environments brim with personality. I spotted tiny Easter eggs etched into the platforms. One secret room features a pixelated homage to early platformers. These details reward players who hunt for every secret.
Sound and Music
The soundtrack by Daedalic’s in-house composers enhances the game’s mood. Light electronic melodies accompany your every jump. The tunes intensify during time trials, spurring you to push harder. Sound effects land with satisfying weight when you shift mass. I found myself smiling at the cartoonish thuds. There’s no voice acting, but the occasional grunts and laughs feel lively. The audio mix remains clean even when chaos unfolds in split-screen coop.
Difficulty and Replayability
Difficulty ramps smoothly across the four worlds. Early stages teach the shift mechanic, then gradually layer in moving platforms, lasers, and time-sensitive traps. By world three, every puzzle demands precise timing and communication. I replayed several levels to snag all collectibles. That grind unlocked four hidden bonus stages. These extras rank among the toughest in the game. Completionists will spend hours mastering them. I also tackled single-player challenges, which impressed me with AI-driven weight swaps. They provide a solid diversion when a second player isn’t available. After 20 hours, I felt thoroughly tested but still eager to revisit time trials for leaderboard glory.
Trivia and Developer Insights
Klonk Games formed in 2013 by two graduates of Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences. They secured part of their budget from Germany’s Medienboard grant. Shift Happens uses the Unity engine, allowing rapid prototyping of its shift mechanics. The team showcased an early build at Gamescom 2016. Feedback there helped refine the cooperative puzzles and camera controls.
Final Thoughts and Rating
Shift Happens delivers a refreshing cooperative platformer built on one simple but brilliant idea. Its lightweight story and art style free it to focus on pure puzzle play. Occasional bugs and a lack of narrative depth hold it back from greatness. Yet as a completionist, I value its hidden levels, collectibles, and leaderboards. I recommend it to any duo seeking a fast-paced, challenging coop romp. Solo players will also find worthy content in special modes.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Pros: What Makes This Game Stand Out
One of the most innovative aspects of this game is its mass-shifting mechanic, which introduces a fresh twist to traditional platforming. Players can manipulate their size and weight to solve puzzles and navigate the environment, adding a unique layer of strategy and experimentation that sets it apart from standard gameplay experiences.
The low-poly visual style adds charm and personality to the game, creating a nostalgic yet modern aesthetic. Its artistic simplicity enhances immersion without overwhelming the player, making it both accessible and visually appealing. Complementing the visuals is an engaging soundtrack that dynamically supports the on-screen action, enriching the overall atmosphere and emotional tone of the game.
For completionists and casual explorers alike, the game features rewarding collectible challenges. Scattered throughout each level are hidden items that encourage exploration and mastery, providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment upon discovery. Moreover, the game boasts solid replay value, especially through its time trial mode, which encourages players to refine their skills and compete for the best times, extending its longevity well beyond the initial playthrough.
Cons: Where the Game Falls Short
Despite its mechanical creativity, the game suffers from a sparse narrative, leaving players with minimal story engagement or character development. This lack of storytelling might disappoint those looking for a more emotionally driven or lore-rich experience.
Technical hiccups also detract from the experience, with occasional camera and clipping bugs reported during platforming sequences. These issues can disrupt the flow and sometimes hinder progress, requiring patches or updates to fully resolve.
Additionally, while the puzzles are initially engaging, the game does face criticism for its repetitive puzzle elements. Over time, the challenge curve plateaus, and certain mechanics begin to feel recycled rather than evolving, which may diminish long-term engagement for players seeking variety.
Whether you aim to unlock every secret or simply beat the main stages, Shift Happens offers a dynamic, entertaining experience. As CompletionistMaster, I salute Klonk Games for crafting a title that remains both fun and fulfilling to master.
